What is something we so want to teach our kids? It can keep them safe, quite honestly it makes our life easier, and God says it's required. What is this?
Obedience.
Boy can it be a hard thing to teach though, right?
When we had our first we had no idea what we were doing. We had observed all sorts of families and we did have some idea of what we didn't want to do and a few things that we knew we wanted to do. But I don't recall ever sitting down, before or after our first was born, and talking about concrete ways in which we wanted to raise our daughter.
My husband was a full time student in the first few years of our marriage and for the most part he let me decide on the practical methods of training our daughter. The LORD either gifted us with the knowledge to do character training from an early age and to root everything in His Word, or I read about doing this, or saw someone demonstrating it in their family. Or maybe it was all of the above. I honestly don't know. I do know that from an early age I was teaching godly character qualities to our little girl.
As we were given more Blessings to raise, I can remember times of correcting a child, but in words only. I would repeat the correction a few minutes later. Then again. And then I would just become frustrated. "Why aren't they listening and obeying me?? I don't get it!"
This has happened in the last few days here. Used to it would take me a very long time to realize that I had inadvertently trained them to not listen to me. Trained them to see how far they could go before I would actually administer a punishment. I did this by not following through with the punishment that I said I would give the first time.
When I'm consistent in obedience training, or any other training, it's amazing how much peace there is in our home. How people get along so well. How much happier I am. It really shouldn't surprise me this is a result of obedience since God requires it and lists blessings after blessings that will come if you simply obey.
My definition that I teach our kids for obedience is this: doing what you're told quickly, doing it well, and doing it completely; without complaint.
For our character lesson in school today we got to study this very thing. Genesis 22:1-4 was the passage we studied. The obedience that Abraham demonstrated. . . is astounding. He wasn't told exactly where he was going, just the general area, and he was told what he was going to do. He didn't hang around the next day, enjoying every last moment he could with his child, but rather he rose early the next morning to do as GOD had instructed him. He didn't "forget" to pack the needed items for sacrificing his son. He obeyed fully, completely and quickly.
I love it when there is a clear example to back up a definition I've given to the kids. We also tell the kids "obedience is having the courage to do the right thing".
We are all called to be obedient to Christ, but if we don't practice that, it's really hard to do. And when we are given hard trials, it's going to be very hard to obey. Teaching your kids to obey you, the parent, is practice for obeying their Heavenly Father. WE are called to train our children to be obedient. WE are called to train them in the things of the LORD. When we do this, WE are being obedient.
Give your kids a great example of obedience by raising them in the LORD. You can also do this by obeying your husband. I know. In today's world that it's such a horrid thing to say. But Christ commands it! Marriage should be a team effort, but the husband gets the final say. GOD has ordained it to be so.
We are Kingdom Builders. That's exciting!! We need strong warriors to fight in God's Kingdom, and that begins with learning to be obedient.
Being obedient is a way we can share Christ and invite others to join in on our quest (share the gospel). People notice when your kids behave differently than other kids. People notice when instead of throwing a temper tantrum because you said it's time to leave the park, they answer with "yes mama!"
This can be a hard thing to train your kids in. You might have days (or more) that you're ready to throw in the towel. But don't! Maybe take a step back and revaluate your approach. Talk with your husband or your pastor and ask for advice and prayer. And pray. In secret and with your kids. I remember once the kids were really struggling with obedience and I was getting oh so discouraged. During school we stopped to pray and I prayed for my kids. I prayed for a willingness to be obedient, for submissive spirits, for me to have the right attitude. And just that simple act of me praying out loud made a big impression on my kids. I saw improvement just after that. We still had lots of training to do, but praying does make an impact.
Don't grow weary mama! For in due season you will reap, if you do not give up. Galatians 6:9 💕
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